Sony 'lens camera' will offer competition to the Lumia 1020, but looks awkward

When it comes to mobile photography, one could make the statement that Nokia right now is the company to watch. But firms like Samsung, Apple and even Sony cannot be dismissed either. Two of those tech giants can leverage their independent camera divisions for mobile and are seething with cash (sorry, HTC).

Today, Sony’s rumored ‘lens camera’ has been leaked and we’re at once curious and befuddled by the concept. But make no mistake, when this range of accessories goes public, comparisons to the Nokia Lumia 1020 will undoubtedly come forth.

So, what is it?

The Sony lens camera is exactly what it sounds like: it’s an all in one lens that has a sensor, Wi-Fi/NFC for pairing, and even a microSD card for storage. It’s literally a mini digital camera that you strap onto your Android or iOS device, giving a new level of quality to mobile users. The device pairs via NFC and connects over Wi-Fi making your smartphone basically a giant viewfinder.

See, now after reading that, it sounds less exciting, right?

The devices, DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100, have some impressive specs with the entry-level version (pictured) said to feature a 1/2.3-inch 18-megapixel sensor behind an f/3.3-5.9 Sony G lens with 10X optical zoom. No price was given for either.

But will consumers want it?

While it’s an interesting solution, akin to Samsung’s S4 Zoom, it seems a bit clunky to us, especially when compared to a literal camera-phone like the Lumia 1020. For one, you have to carry this lens-camera in your pocket or bag and by the shape of it (round bulge) it probably won’t be too form fitting in your slacks.

Next, in order to use it, it has to pair via NFC-WiFi to make use of your screen, then the user needs to mount it to their phone. All of that takes away any potential spontaneity with the dual combo. It’s also unclear if you have access to the photos on the smartphone directly, though we’ll presume that you do.

We don’t want to criticize Sony too much here though. Mobile photography is still in its infancy and companies need to experiment to push the boundaries and see where we can go. Maybe some niche photo buffs will prefer the Sony method over carrying around a high quality point and shoot camera—indeed, it is smaller. Not to mention, it's quite impressive that they jammed basically a whole camera into a lens--think about that for a second.

But for the masses, the Nokia approach to us seems radical in all the core areas (sensor, technology), but conservative in others (size, integration), resulting an impressive device that feels familiar. That’s a great selling point too.

We've been saying that 2013 - 2014 would be the year of the camera for smartphones, and now competition is heating up. What do you think about Sony’s approach? Hit, miss or it’s completely dependent on price?

Sony 'lens camera' will offer competition to the Lumia 1020, but looks awkward

The 1020 is the current short term future option. Nobody else can touch it for now, hence the crude, haphazard attempts by other competitors. Sony are irrelevant anyway in the smartphone war, they are sp far behind Nokia and Samsung, its untrue. I remember Kodak had a 10x optical zoom in a compact camera with no physical zoom lens, using two 5x lens' with different ranges on each. If anyone gets hold of this patent from the now defunct company, that could blow even the 1020 away...

So you don't want apple to put out a competitive, genuinely innovative option simply because they're apple, or what?

I welcome any competitive offerings from everyone. If Apple puts together a better camera than Nokia (not even close yet), then they deserve it. All it does is serve to push specs and user experience forward, and lower prices.

I cheer for my favorites, but I still would love to see apple and Samsung succeed. That just means lower prices for all, and more innovation from Nokia!

It didn't have OIS, and wasn't actually mega thin... But it was thinner than say the bulge on the S4 zoom, and this was a few years ago, so whoever has got the patent, could have a lot more refined one, and incorporate OIS. As it stands though, nobody can touch Nokia for camera technology, even ultrapixel has been a failure, Nokia have spent too much time and money developing their technologies in partnership with a top class partner (Zeiss) and despite the 808 being out 2.5 years and the 920 almost a year, so plenty of warning, the competition have, on this occasion, been caught napping.

Looks kinda awkward ( so is the 1020's camera grip and battery accesory) but I might get one if the image quality is great , supports my phone of choice and cost below $200. Nokia should probably look into this kind of accesory. The 1020's camera UI and this will be fantastic.

Not to mention it is connected by wi fi also. this might spawn a slew of similar accesories but then again it might not.
In terms of catching on, I really don't see it doing so as the whole thing about a point and shoot is just that - point and shoot. Not fiddle around with some clunky attachment. Never the less the fact that they managed to cram a whole camera into it is pretty impressive.

I think this would be a great thing for non Nokia WP devices.. If it's going to support Android, and iOS, then it needs to have support for all WP devices as well.. It just makes WP look bad when the majority of smartphones in the world can do something, and WP can't.. Also, not everyone who is interested in WP is willing to buy a Nokia device, and this might be even more true as the others start to pull their heads out their asses, and make more WP devices.. I'm just trying to look at this in a logical way instead of doing what iDroid fans do and just dismiss something because its new and different.. Peripheral devices like this thing, and controllers are important for WP to have if the others have them... While I find this seriously defeating the purpose of the 1020 I have to remind myself that not every WP fan wants a 1020, and some might loathe at the idea of purchasing a Nokia device,,, as crazy as it may sound... IDK.. My theory towards WP succeeding is that if the others can do something, or have something, then WP better as well.

No, their making options for people.. There's nothing wrong with that... Some of you WP users have forgotten what it's like to have options.. Not all WP devices are Nokia devices, and this would benefit Samsung and HTC WP devices.. Just the fact that WP could support this thing the same as iDroid would give WP more credibility.. Don't be like those closed minded iDroid fans and dismiss somthing because it's new, and different...

Its a case of how many things do you want to carry around with you. With the Nokia, you need one thing. Not a few. I saw Samsung's hideous attempt to shy light away from the 1020 basically a galaxy s4 with some zoomable Samsung camera on the back. With the width half as wide as a house brick. Honestly for the future of mobile photography, the Nokia Lumia 1020 is the way forward. Or any high end wp8 Lumia for that matter.

They review literally every gadget. Got a tv show in the UK which is very popular. But I agree it is an abomination. Every Samsung galaxy since the s3 has been. But s4 zoom has been rushed. It shouldn't have been done. But being a Samsung galaxy, watch it walk of the shelves.

The 1020 camera will still be better. Watch as Nokia improves their camera tech year over year making these clunky awkward solutions less and less relevant and ever reducing the gap between a dedicated camera and an all in one smart device.

Yes, but the thing is going to cost a minimum of $399........this is sony after all - my bet is that it will be $299 for entry level, and $399 for the QX version.............what people don't see is that this is really not a portable solution. If your going to carry that lensamera around with you, why not just carry the real camera. Why bother attaching the clunky battery eating thing to your cell phone. That's the difference between the 1020 and this, the 1020, is (1) device.....this is not

Exactly. I can easily slip the 1020 into my jeans pocket and take respectable pictures at any time with it. People using this will have to take 2 things out of their cases, set them up, pair them then take pictures. Why not just get a bloody camera?

Your RX100 is a dedicated camera. His comment was talking about camera tech on smartphones. Smartphone cameras have been making dedicated cameras less relevant for several years now. You see less and less people bringing dedicated cameras to events and just using their phones. As the picture quality of phones gets better, you will see less dedicated cameras around. They are just more convenient and the image quality is starting to matches the results of point & shoot cameras from a few years ago. Even if the smartphone camera never truly catches up to a dedicated camera, people will still use dedicated cameras less and they will become niche tools for amateur and professional photographers.

I'm thinking that it took Nokia 5 years to make 808 so Samsung and Sony just don't have time to actually develop a pocketable supercamerasmartphone. This lens thing is a lot more niche than 1080. You can't have the lens attached at all times meaning you'd need a separate bad for it....and when you cross that line why not get a proper camera to carry around.

I am thinking the same. I might just as well wip out a point and shoot. Even better is the point and shoot has a wifi or bluetooth connection to my cell phone. Why make all this fuzz to attach this thing to the phone before taking the picture? Does Sony understand why we want to carry a cell phone?

Sony along with iPhone will most probably release some sort of unisex handbag so the people that use their tech can carry their accessories with them at all times. I can understand having different lenses for some big professional dslr camera that cost a few thousand, but on a mobile phone having detachable lenses is pretty pointless. The 1020 has cracked it though.

Precisely! But then Nokia's solution is far better and at the pace at which nokia is moving, who knows what amazing technology they got in their labs. Dan, just asking, you got any clue about Nokia's next-gen camera tech?

Its not better than 1020 but its innovative, i would say very innovative. Does take away the spontaneity of shooting but yeah freaking amazing that "they jammed basically a whole camera into a lens ". Great concept indeed :)

This actually looks like a decent accessory, I'll go against all the bias in the comments. Lumia 920 is less awkward than this sure, but there's no taking away from a good sensor with a big lens.

The weight on that bad boy might be too much, but I applaud Sony for taking a 'risk', much like Nokia has been doing. Who knows, in the future this could be very thin and light, and for fast shots you use the normal camera on phone, and for landscapes and scenes and whatnot, this could be a great attachment. Course, it'll probably be priced to leave, knowing Sony... But why not take a risk.

Looks very clunky, but this trend is potentially dangerous for Nokia... you see once iOS get an accessory that allows the iSheep to take great pics they have the power of mass users to spread the word and suddenly the 1020 will become a museum piece. Its sad and i don't agree with this, but its all about volume and until WP / Nokia is a mass market product then they'll innovate and then Apple will steal the show a few months later. I'm sure there will be many features in the iphone 5s that the Lumia already has but because Apple release it with razzmatazz and the media love them we'll always be in 3rd place :-(

May I apologize for some of my WP brothers responding like the typical iDroid fan who dismisses WP just because it's new, and different.. Personally I love the idea of the 1020 with a great camera built in... But, I think the Sony device looks cool, and is going to definitely yield some great pictures.. Sony makes great cameras period... But, I'm seriously disappointed in my WP/Nokia fans because we all know if this thing had a big fat Nokia stamp on it everyone here would be going nutz❗... I hope if Sony gives support for this camera to iDroid, then they let WP devices support it as well because that just adds credibility to the WP platform... Its never good to let hatred of other things get in the way of logical thinking.. My first thought was "This defeats the purpose of the 1020".. Then I remembered that not everyone who wants a WP device is going to like the 1020, 1030, 1040, or Nokia devices in general.. Maybe a user of a HTC 8x might find this interesting... It's just that I've been struggling with closed minded iDroid fans, mostly Android fans, for a long time now, And I refuse to drop to their level... BTW I use a Red Nokia Lumia 920... So, if any WP fans want to hate you can't tell me $hit,, because I'm old money WP,, I'm talking Windows Mobile old money❕

That's just your opinion.. There are a lot of people who might want to use this for whatever reason they please, and WP being included on the list of platforms that are compatible with things like this can only be a good thing... Who gives a flip if I don't like it, or you don't like it... It's another option, and WP needs as many options as the others... Nevertheless, I beg to differ that you wouldn't be excited if Nokia came up with this first.. How long do you think I've been around son..

I can see some advantages of the device,, not comparing it to anything else is best for perspective on it... Most cameras aren't connected the same way smartphones are to the web, and the apps a smartphone has would give a device like this unlimited possibilities.. Not to mention that people could use this on existing lower end devices with poor cameras... Judging by the way the thing looks, and that Sony makes terrific cameras, we should be holding our breath to see the quality of the photos this thing will produce... If this thing is successful then Nokia will have to do something similar will its next camera grip... I wouldn't dismiss any new innovations in the smartphone market just yet... Everything is just getting started... Remember those who said WP would never amount to anything❔... We don't want to be like them....

It supports iOS (7? NFC) & Android devices and ALL carriers. That's huge! No need to jump to AT&T to get it (yes, I realize this is likely a temporary restriction on the 1020 tech).

It seems that it might provide more of a DSLR/SLR look & feel to the camera experience which will be very attractive to those who are more concerned with looking like a photographer than the convenience of the all-in-one 1020.

Personally, I wouldn't want to carry it around or have to find it in my wife's purse so I can attach it before I can use it. The WP camera has been, for a couple of years, the most convenient and this won't change that.

This would only be good if you are going into a situation where you know you will be taking a lot of pictures. Zoos, museums, sports events would all be great places. I imagine the price will be the prohibitive factor here. If you are really into photography you probably have an SLR. The average picturetaker won't want anything to do with this.

I think the 1020 makes much more sense than this thing. The 1020 makes taking great pictures easy. This makes taking great pictures more of a hassle. It's pretty easy to see the difference, but I know what you're saying. I read a lot of the same things.

Its no different than strapping on the camera grip.. Maybe it would be good for other WP Devices than Nokia devices.. Remember those❔... Lol.. It just would add more credibility to WP if our platform supported this along with the others.. I look at it the same way I see someone with a GS4 being able to use a controller, but the Ativ S not having support because it's "WP"... I'm tired of that $hit..

I had the same idea when the grip for the 1020 was first leaked! I think Nokia should have had the camera centered in the hump at back, and designed the camera grip such that it would allow for interchangeable lenses. This would give people the ability to take great pictures all the time, and have great optical zoom when needed.

I honestly prefer this solution than ruining the design of a phone like Nokia did with the L1020, thus creating an horrible looking phone. It also means I don't have to carry around the monster phone when I'm sure I won't need the camera (like, saying, 5 days a week, whenever I go to the office).

Had Nokia opted for this solution and I would have considered buying it.

Either way you just proved that WP needs more options than just one.. It's no sense in us arguing about what we like because the reality is that something like this outboard camera would be excellent if other WP devices, besides the 1020, could support and use this.. Not everyone wants a Nokia device.. We need to stay open minded... If iDroid has it then WP should have it as well.. BOTTOM LINE❗

What monster phone are you talking about?! The 1020 little bump is far from any monster...and its a decent payoff for the best pocketable camera on a phone at this time.
Now this sony thing is a freak...
If you know when you don't need a camera with your phone then buy a phone and camera separate!
Since 'you never know when', i like the convenience of having both decent camera and phone on me all the time in the form of an easily pocketalbe cellphone..and thats the 1020

Sony isn't missing the point.. Its just another option for taking great pictures with a smartphone.. By us always comparing everything to what Nokia does closes our minds like CloneDroid fools, and makes us look like fearful haters... What Nokia does is great, and the others are going to try to do some great things, but in their own way.. At least this is a different idea than what Nokia has for now because if it was a 35mp camera built into a experia device we would all be saying Sony copied Nokia.. That's the sign of a bunch of true hatters... Like closed minded iSheep think that the iPhone was first, so its best.. No❕

I have both the lumia 1020 and Sony RX100, and after using both the devices, I would buy the QX100(RX100II sensor) even of it costs 400USD. Im sure developer will come up with an app to connect it to WP through WiFi. 1" sensor is impressive indeed.

Camera phones arent supposed to have that big bulge in them....they should be pocketable. I understand it may be better than 99% of the cameras phones have nowadays but it defeats the purpose of portability.
This doesnt slip into my pocket after talking a pic...first ill have the put the camera part in a soft case and have the phone in one pocket and the lense in another to avoid bruising one or the other. Plus hope that hook it has is some super soft indestructable material so it doesnt crack/scratch my cellphone screen!
This leaves having to sling around some carrying case for this lens thingy....might as well just bring along my m4/3 camera for the ride instead.

Its best to not set rules for what a smartphone is supposed to be... Options means that they should come in all shapes, colors, price ranges, and sizes.. You just choose what's best for yourself... This is the same thing we where telling iDroid clones, so why are we being hypocritical now, and acting like something is being taken away from us? Just praise the device for what it is, and have faith that Nokia is going to continue to innovate, and bring us great WP devices...

Incredibly retarded. The reason why so many people like 1020 is because that camera is built in. Anybody can make a lens that fits onto the phone. It takes skill to make a phone with a camera like that.

It remember reading about this a few months back , but iOS compatible? In the last leak they said it will an accessory for the upcoming "Honami" Xperia i1
Interesting concept, perhaps we finally get a modern Nokia Vs. Sony camera comparison.
Sony have been focusing on camera phones & photography since they released the Xperia Arc (with the Exoumr R sensor) a couple of years ago , but no one seems to take em seriously

Nokia is the "smallest" company now with WP. My guess is that if mobile photography is the war, they will beat Nokia, better or not. Of cause I hope Nokia is ahead of its competition and can make big bucks on photo compared to it's competition. But being the 3.9 percent, its a up hill battle as this accessories will, as I understand, work on any Android device = win.
Its not the first time better products might loose. :-/

Two issues I see.
Battery life on phone with Wifi now being used. This is going to have a serious detrimental effect on your battery and now you need a portable charger to recharge the phone. (and possibly the lens).

Fiash. Is the phone's flash powerful enough to provide the light necessary to take a picture?

I don't think its a competing device at all. Its more like a camera accessory for mobile phones that connects through WIFI. WP dev can make apps to make it connect to Windows Phone. I think its an awesome price of hardware and really really nice of Sony for making it comparable with wide range of devices. Overall Thumbs Up.

you have a bigass lens but where's the flash ? and OIS ? How's the battery consumption looking out ? Will the viewfinder actually make for a pleasant experience ? Doesn't work if there's no wifi around ? questions....questions....

Well if its like the WiFi on a gopro to a smartphone device the gopro has its own WiFi signal it puts out. But what if be interested in seeing is if there's a delay with it. The gopro has about a 3 second delay from it to my 920 when using it as a view finder.

When companies like Sony cannot truly rival the massive technological leap that Nokia has made with tue 1020, you can tell just how big a leap it is. Sony's solution is not nearly as convenient, integrated, portable. This could mot even be built-in to today's cell phone the way Nokia has been able to. High praise for Nokia when you see the competition so far behind.

Yup. This monstrosity looks like it was invented by Martin Cooper in '73 to be attached to the first cellular 'Brick' phone to make the first camera-phone.

How can no-one at SONY not have spoken up and said this is an atrociously uncreative, impractical and embarrassing monster, and kill it before it saw the light of day. Did they make it for Godzilla to use?

I'm actually hoping Nokia will comeup with a shell like the "camera grip" but with zoom lens and an sd card/micro sd and extra bettery. That will be more usefull!
Or even make the lens removable and can be replaced with a "camera lens cover". Something that I can snap on when going to events or vacation but removed for everyday use!

I was thinking they should have a device that focuses on Audio quality.. It could have a "Camera grip" like accessory, but with two huge speakers, and a extra battery.. Maybe some capacitive audio controls, and a small amp... Now that's a cool idea... Who says Nokia is limited to just Camera technology...

Lol❕❕ yes❗❗.. They could have a app, co developed with Dolby, that gives you full control of your music's sound quality, let's you view your tracks in wave form so that they can be chopped into ringtones, or loops.. Have fun digital audio stacks like compressors, equalizers, and other effects like vacuum tube preamp's. Downloadable skins, and track mixing would be cool... I what I'm saying is that Nokia is the best producer of WPD's, and WP fans come I all different types.. Although I love the focus on camera technology I also love music production, and audio quality.. If Nokia is going to be, well already is, the premier WP OEM then they better start doing things to cater to every type of existing, or potential WP fan possible... While still dominating in SPCT.. I wouldn't let that go anytime soon..

Regardless of who I am,, it's the truth.. Nokia isn't going to survive on $300 super camera phones... The others are going to start making $200 super camera phones, so Nokia better stay ahead of the curve by being innovative in multiple areas.. Well see..

Not that I would want to do so, but nothing besides the app that it's most likely going to take to run tha damn thing.. Just one more app that iDroid has, and WP doesn't, because WP fans are getting big headed and beginning to start hating like pathetic iDroid clones...
BTW.. I saw that comment you made about me not wearing shoes.. Is that a racist comment about my moma❔

A couple of thoughts beyond my initial OMG! that is one fugly thing! First, given that this is Sony, I am stunned there isn't some proprietery technology in there. No memory stick? Second, the advice I've always given to people who've asked me about digital cameras still holds here: a digital camera is still a camera and a camera is always only as good as its lens. I've always suggested people by digital cameras from companies that know something about lenses. Canon and Nikon make lenses. Sony does not. Zeiss makes lenses and Nokia is smart enough to use them.
Critics have been calling the 1020 a niche product. Somehow I suspect this comical device won't be considered the same.

Nokia should make attachments for the 1020 like a wide angle lense, fisheye and macro. Heck even a zoom lens attachment. That would be nice.
If we can get this to work on WP it wouldn't be a bad idea as another option to add to your portable photo needs. Different sensor sizes will give you different results and a different style of photos you need.

After 20 comments you finally said something that actually meant something.. I have to give it to you NIST.. I agree... But, I hope Nokia continues to wow us because the other are going to try very hard now... This isn't going to be a walk in the park for Nokia, rather a grueling challenge... IOW.. At this point nothing's guaranteed.

Wow wow wow, Sony makes lenses dude. Their cameras are top-notch as well. I think people are missing the point here. They make a LENS CAMERA, a CAMERA. The phone only serves are viewfinder - the LCD, and additional storage. All phones can connect to it, isn't that awesome? Even the low-end 520 can use it, given the software.

That's what I said.. WP fans are haters all the same... I refuse to step to iDroid clones level.. That is until they attack WP... Then you're fixing to see THE biggest hater come fourth with vengeance❕... Lol❕

Looks like crap but when Nokia is so exclusive with the 1020 if t-mo had something like this I would think on it. Love my L925 but utterly hate 16gb just saying it always seems wp trying to catch up to what is normal on other platforms ...

I'm already looking forward to Smoked By Windows Phone Challenge with a Lumia 1020 vs. this thing connected to whatever. Windows Phone would be done with the whole challenge before the challenger could find this in their purse/bag and get it connected. LOL

Actually, this thing can be used with multiple devices.. That means that Samsung, and HTC, WP devices could take advantage of this... It would be a good thing if Sony made this compatible with all WP devices... If it's only available on iDroid then what does that continue to make WP look like❔.. We shouldn't let our hatred get in the way of logical thinking.....

This actually would be good for Samsung, or HTC WP devices.. Disregard any hatred I had before for this device.. I can see how this would be good for WP and think that it's a great idea.. We better hope that companies include WP when making peripherals like this for smartphones... If WP is left out of the mix from things like this then that will be just one more obstacle to overcome.... Maybe Nokia devices don't need this, but other WP devices will in the future.. Not everyone is, or will be, a Nokia WP fan...

Sad to see a lot of the people on here dismissing this just because it's Sony or because they think its a silly attempt to copy the 1020. I think it looks really promising, and might just pick one up of it supports my 920 :)

I personally think its no competition for Nokia. It adds additional stuff to carry and so much more bulk to it. People complained about nokias bump on the 1020 so how will this be an improvement? Cool concept but I believe its out dated already. And personally id choose the 1020 anyways because this won't be cheap most likely and kill it being cost effective. But that's my opinion.

Here, here... I love Sony.. This girl at work just got a new experia something and it is amazing❕.. WP needs that hardware... Lately Sony has been taking the Smartphone business seriously, and they would be huge competition for Nokia if they hit up WP hard❗

I hear that the RCA Victrola company is making a machine that plays music on these "platters" made of that new fangled plastic. You lower a needle, of all things, onto this plastic disk with grooves and the vibrations are amplified using black magic and they come out of a megaphone. I hear that this new device is going to spell the end of the mp3 player. I think Matthew Brady would be very interested in this new camera obscura. He's a big Android fan.

I'm more worried about charging this thing, you see its a camera that transmis a view finder think of it for a minute, even the whole contsruction of the camera attachement to the phone is weak and scary, I think the Lumia 1020 hit the sweet spot, if yo u want it to look like a camera you add a shell that "ADDS battery and a Mount plug" instead of weight/bulge/another battery concern. BTW what if you're on wifi ? and you needed to use this thing? what does it work with your current wifi? what if you don't have access to Wifi does it not work.
Well at least it shows that Nokia's method was amazingly constructed the Lumia 1020 doesn't get praised much for its slim and conservative measures.

As someone who sold Sony cameras until last year, will people buy it? Only a few will. Sony has great products that never get recognition. The TX series of cameras, the Sony Alpha line, awesome but overpriced. I hope it takes off but I have doubts.

Really doubt this thing would sell, but if it does sells then Nokia could simply copy the idea and release a "Pureview Grip" which holds the camera unit, image processor, battery and a microSD card slot which lets other Lumia's dock into it.

I think it is interesting to see that companies are innovating and trying to see what they can do to be different.
While one product may not appeal to everyone, all the better for the consumer as we have choices...sweet.

Ok. We got already around 38 megapixel's in 1020 uhmmmm... Then what's a point add some expensive scrap like this from Sony? Maybe Carl Zeiss it's not enough or maybe this is just only next gadget for waste my money.

Erm. This isn't an "alternative" -- this means you should just carry a real point and shoot or DSLR with you and your phone. If you are going to have another device for photo taking, that has to attach to your phone then just get a real camera and carry both. Why would you get this and settle for less quality and yet still ahve to carry two things?

It would be nice if this was offered for Windows Phone. The omission of windows phone support for this peripheral makes it "look" as if the industry is united against the Lumia line of Windows Phones which excel in mobile photography.
Again it "looks" that way. I understand the low WP market share may make it costly for Sony to invest in incorporating whatever technical aspects into the device as well as the associated costs of ongoing support. Still its a pity that in reality Android and IOS will be getting an awesome alternative to the industry leading smatphone camera tech in the Lumia lime, particularly the 1020. This just make it more difficult for those who may be enticed to WP due to the camera aspects, not to switch and to invest their money in this device, $250 for the lower end and $499 for the higher end. If they want it bad enough they will pay and stay with their preferred platform. Hopefully this Micrsoft/Nokia deal will help to bring more industry and developer support to the Windows Phone ecosystem.